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We will be vacationing en masse as a family of 17 shortly. My parents have splurged on three cottages at a lakeside resort in western Ontario and we (assorted family units spread across three generations) will be soaking up the sun, fishing off the dock, swimming in the lake, making s'mores by the campfire, and trying to give each other space when necessary.

I'm all about keeping things simple on vacation. The cottages come with basic furnished kitchens (woohoo) but not with grills (sigh). I'm a don't-turn-on-the-oven type of girl in the summer - unless the temperatures have dropped a bit. We don't have air con in our home at the moment and these days that feel like 40C leave you sweltering. *If* I even drum up the energy to cook (we eat a lot of fruit and veggies and salads and sandwiches in the summer) - if I cook, it's done over the BBQ or involves a quick pan-fry - no fuss, no muss. It also involves a fully stocked kitchen... and it still requires…

There are so many beautiful little hidden gems across the province. We're truly in the perfect location for day tripping, staycations, or mini-getaways. This summer we've had to cut-back on our little daytime adventures. It's been hard balancing housework, exploration time, and a few part-time jobs. I'm an expert juggler... well, a juggler at least. I've been known to drop a ball or two before.

This summer, the kids have enjoyed time at Grandma & Grandpa's cottage on Sturgeon Lake. They've gone camping with Oma at Ontario Park Awenda. We went spelunking (and hiking and swimming) at the Warsaw Caves Conservation area. We've spent countless hours on the shores of Lake Scugog and playing in Palmer Park. We found a fantastic deal on Wonderland tickets and wore ourselves out with sun, rides, and junk food. This week we headed west and explored the sights (and tastes) of the St. Jacob's Farmers Market, with a stop at the Elora Gorge on the w…

A couple months ago I joined up for Steeped Tea - not because I want another "job", but to take advantage of the consultant savings personally. (Although I *can* place orders if you want something!) The starter kit was on at a fantastic price and it came loaded with some fabulous product.

I love tea... and I'm not as picky as some when it comes to loose leaf vs. bagged. I still have a picky palate and I've come to realise my tea tastes have evolved a little over time. I've been using Steeped Tea products on occasion for years since a friend introduced me to the company. I'm also a fan of some of the Tazo varieties and my all-time-favourite tea is still the White Christmas by Stash. It's like a cozy sweater in a cup. (It's also great for soothing sore tummies with its blend of mint and ginger.) I'm NOT a fan of most of the traditional brands, but in a pinch, they will do.

My name is Lindsey and I'm the mother of a reformed bedwetter. I hesitated to even post this online because the child who suffered with bedwetting is quite sensitive about it. It didn't seem to matter how many times we tried to be reassuring or supportive. It didn't matter how many times we told him he wasn't the only one and that there's a significant family history of bedwetting. Lately, it had become a BIG HUGE EMBARRASSING fact of life for the kid.After endless purchases of pull ups and goodnites, conversations with the doctor, trying to wake at regular intervals, limiting drinks before bed, and (mistakenly) just winging it, we discovered a (highly expensive) product that saved the day (so worth it!)If you have an older bedwetter (remember my kids are 7&9... and in the interest of protecting the privacy of the one who dealt with this, I'm not narrowing it down), give the Chummie Elite Bedwetting System a try. We purchased ours on Amazon.ca, albei…

I found a fabulous deal on a bread machine via Amazon.ca just before Christmas and I've been using it sporadically for this and that. Then Christmas and the various hosting opportunities arrived and I had no room for it in my kitchen so I placed it in the basement out of sight. Last week, I decided to bring it up again and test some recipes. Some were just "meh" (not horrible... but not delicious). Others have been pretty darn good.
These cinnamon rolls though... they go way beyond "pretty darn good" and right into "incredibly delicious." I've been craving cinnamon rolls all week, but in my mind, they're a weekend treat. This is probably because of the time factor involved. I struggle enough to get three of us out the door with somewhat healthy lunches, a belly full, and hopefully teeth brushed. If clothes match and we remembered our gloves, that's just a bonus. Forget time to proof a batch of cinnamon rolls, bake them, and cl…

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you just want to crawl in bed and stay there? Monday was a snow day, and as much as I love my boys, I don't always care for thw noise they create. By Tuesday afternoon, I had a full-on pillow over the head, turn off the lights migraine. The Advil eventually dulled the pain and my family should love me. I sucked it up and managed to create a yummy dinner (tex-mex stuffed peppers) without vomiting or passing out. That's a win, isn't it?By Wednesday morning I was feeling human and I made it through work and even had a productive day in the office yesterday. (Oh, hey! Guess what? I have a new part-time admin job.... that works with our home life. Score!) Despite feeling more human, the headache lurked... waiting to ambush me on my only free day (that would be today) - a day with a to-do list a mile long including some Wisdom and Whimsy deliveries. (Sorry, Aidan!) So a wise girl rearranges her life... and puts on her sweat pan…